Ch 1 Introduction to Computers and Programming

microprocessor brands

(Intel, AMD, and Motorola) has a unique instruction set

Largest Number value that can be stored in a byte is

255 Two bytes are used for larger numbers, max value 65535

disk drive

A device that reads data from and writes data onto a disk. The disk can be a hard disk - removable or fixed; a floppy disk. It is an example of an input and output device.

digital device

A digital device is any device that works with binary data.

Binary is Limited

Binary numbering system can be used to represent only integer numbers • Negative numbers are encoded using two's complement • Real numbers are encoded using floating-point notation

digital data

Digital data is data that is stored in binary

cloud storage

When you store data in the cloud, you are storing it on a remote server via the internet, or via a company's private network. - You can access it from many different devices, and from any location where you have a network connection. - Can also be used to backup important data that is stored on a computer's disk.

instruction set

set of all operations that can be executed by a processor

system software

software responsible for the general operation of a computer system, including the operation of hardware, running application software, and file management

syntax

•Syntax is a set of rules that must be strictly followed when writing a program

Compiler

A computer program created to read an entire program and convert it into a lower-level language and ultimately to assembly language used by the processor. Compiler is a program that translates a high-level language program into a separate machine language program

program

A program is a set of instructions that a computer follows to perform a task. Software. MS Word, Powerpoint.

interpreter program

An interpreter is a program that both translates and executes the instructions in a high-level language program.

High-Level Languages

High-level languages allow you to create powerful and complex programs without knowing how the CPU works, using words that are easy to understand. For example: Java, C++, Python, Visual Basic, C#, Ada, Fortran

Output device examples

Monitor, printer, storage device, speakers, projector

syntax error

Syntax error is a mistake such as a: • Misspelled word • Missing punctuation character • Incorrect use of an operator

hardware

The physical devices that a computer is made of are referred to as the computer's hardware. Most computer systems are made of similar hardware devices. The central processing unit (CPU) Main memory Secondary storage devices Input devices Output devices

Solid State Drive (SSD)

a storage device that typically uses flash memory to store data, instructions, and information. A solid state drive has no moving parts, and operates faster than a traditional disk drive.

How a Program works

• CPU is the most important component in a computer • CPU is not a brain • CPU is not smart • CPU is an electronic device that is designed to do specific things.

USB flash drive

A flash memory storage device that plugs into a USB port or a computer or mobile device. Universal Serial Bus drives, or USB drives, are small devices that plug into the computer's USB port, and appear to the system as a disk drive.

programmer

A person who develops computer software programs. A programmer, or software developer, is a person with the training and skills necessary to design, create, and test computer programs.

digital image

A picture in electronic form. It may be referred to as a file, document, picture, or image. Digital images are composed of tiny dots of color known as pixels (picture elements)

software

A program or instructions that give directions to the computer. Software is essential to a computer because, without software, a computer can do nothing.

Assembler

Assembler is used to translate an assembly language program to machine language.

CPU understands instructions in

CPU only understands instructions written in machine language • Machine language instructions are written in 1s and 0s

CPU

Central Processing Unit. The central processing unit, or CPU, is the part of a computer that actually runs programs. (The CPU is often referred to as the processor.) The CPU is the most important component in a computer because without it, the computer could not run software.

ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange)

Characters are stored in the computer's memory as binary number • ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) is a coding scheme.• ASCII is a set of 128 numeric codes • ASCII is limited.

Digital Sound

Digital sound is broken into small pieces known as samples.

Secondary Storage Devices

Hard disk, floppy disks, CD, DVD, jump drives.Secondary storage is a type of memory that can hold data for long periods of time, even when there is no power to the computer. Programs are normally stored in secondary memory and loaded into main memory as needed.

Optical devices

Hit market around early 1990s; they're written/read with a laser, are strong, and handle temperature fluctuations well; took several years to be affordable compared to floppy disks. Optical devices (CD or DVD) - Data is encoded as a series of pits on the disc's surface - Uses laser to encode the data - Holds large amounts of data - Good medium for creating backups

key words

Key words or reserved words have specific meaning and purpose in the programming language.

Main Memory (RAM)

Main memory is commonly known as random-access memory or RAM. It is called this because the CPU is able to quickly access data stored at any random location in RAM. RAM is usually a volatile type of memory that is used only for temporary storage while a program is running. RAM is erased when the computer is turned off.

Assembly Language

Programming language that has the same structure and set of commands as machine languages but allows programmers to use symbolic representations of numeric machine code. Assembly language uses short words that are known as mnemonics. Assembly language is referred to as a low-level language

Application Software

Programs that people normally spend most of their time running on their computers performing everyday tasks are referred to as application software. • For example: • Word processing • Spreadsheet • Database • Presentation

ROM

Read Only Memory- Permanent instructions that cannot be changed. It makes the BIOS function. Checks your OS. A computer can read the contents of ROM, but it cannot change its contents, or store additional data there. - ROM is nonvolatile. It does not lose its contents, even when the computer's power is turned off. - ROM is typically used to store programs that are important for the system's operation. For example, the computer's startup program, which is executed each time the computer is started.

CPU performs doing(Can DO)

Read a piece of data from main memory • Adding two numbers • Subtracting one number from another number • Multiplying two numbers • Dividing one number by another number • Moving a piece of data from one memory location to another • Determining whether one value is equal to another value

Running a Program

Running or executing a program is the term used when the computer performs the tasks that the program tells it to do.

microprocessor chip

Small piece of silicon that holds millions of tiny electronic circuits; serve as CPU of most computers; can be programmed to perform certain tasks

Software Development Tools

Software Developments Tools are programs that are used to create, modify, and test software.

statements

Statements are individual instructions written in a programming language.

Utility Program

Utility Programs perform a specialized task that enhances the computer's operation or safeguards data.

application software

computer software created to allow the user to perform a specific job or task: • Programs that make a computer useful for every day tasks such as Microsoft Word, email programs, and Web browsers.

source code

contains instructions written by a programmer specifying the actions to be performed by computer software. The statements written in a high-level language are called source code or simply code •Source code is translated to machine language using a compiler or an interpreter.

System Software

software responsible for the general operation of a computer system, including the operation of hardware, running application software, and file management. Operating System Utility Programs Software Development Tools

Unicode

• Unicode is an extensive encoding scheme • It is compatible with ASCII • It represents characters for many languages in the world. A character code that enables most of the languages of the world to be symbolized with a special character identification.

operators

•Operators perform various operations on data.

Operating System

(computer science) software that controls the execution of computer programs and may provide various services Operating System controls the internal operations of the computer's hardware and manages all of the devices connected to the computer.

bytes

8 bits. A computer's memory is divided into tiny storage locations known as bytes. One byte is only enough memory to store a letter of the alphabet or a small number. One byte represents one number • A byte is divided into eight smaller storage locations known as bits (binary digits) • Bits are tiny electrical components that can hold either a positive or a negative charge. • A positive charge is similar to a switch in the on position • A negative charge is similar to a switch in the off position

input devices

A device used to provide information to a computer. A keyboard is an example of an input device. Input is any data the computer collects from people and from other devices. The component that collects the data and sends it to the computer is called an input device. - Keyboard - Mouse - Touch screen - Scanner - Microphone - Digital camera - tablet

ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer)

The ENIAC, considered by many to be the world's first programmable electronic computer, was built in 1945 to calculate artillery ballistic tables for the U.S. Army. This machine, which was primarily one big CPU, was 8 feet tall, 100 feet long, and weighed 30 tons.

Binary Numbers

The positive charge or the on position is represented by the digit 1 • The negative charge or the off position is represented by the digit 0 • This corresponds to the binary numbering system where all numeric values are written as a sequence of 0s and 1s • Each digit in a binary number has a value assigned to it

Fetch-Decode-Execute Cycle

This is the process that all Stored Program Computers follow in order to run instructions within the machine. Instructions are stored within main memory as a combination of both instruction & data. The cycle consist of three steps: - Fetch - Decode - Execute